National Aquarium May Close Its Dolphin Exhibit

It's hard to imagine the National Aquarium without dolphins. But the Aquarium Board is considering getting rid of its dolphin exhibit.

It released a look into its future plans on Wednesday. They include finding the best possible options for providing the dolphins with the best living environment in the future.

The National Aquarium CEO says they are embracing changes to stay relevant to audiences in the next thirty years.

The Aquarium is studying and evaluating all possible options, it says, including creating a dolphin sanctuary in an ocean-side setting.

"We're looking at whether or not an experience at an aquarium would change. That would be with the opportunity to see dolphins in the wild versus seeing them in the tanks only. In another generation or two, people won't want to see animals in tanks or cages," Robert Carter, chairman of the Aquarium Board explains to Bryan Nehman on Maryland's Morning News.

A Dolphin Summit will take place at the National Aquarium later this month to discuss options.

According to Carter, the summit will bring together some of the leading experts from all over the world to concentrate on how the aquarium treats dolphins who've been in captivity for a long time.

"We know more about dolphins in captivity than we did 30-some years ago. This is not something that's planned at this point. That summit is going to have an impact on how we look at this," he says.

Carter says the plan to close the dolphin exhibit and release the animals from captivity is exploratory at this point.

The National Aquarium opened in 1981. It currently houses 8 dolphins.

Here's their full press release:

The National Aquarium is taking bold strides to define its future through an ambitious, far-reaching strategic process called BLUEprint. Launched last fall, the BLUEprint process is designed to ensure a healthy future for the nonprofit institution and its animals through focus on four key areas of inquiry: the future of aquariums worldwide, reimagining the National Aquarium experience, designing a new role in the nation’s capital, and the future of dolphins at the National Aquarium.

“In the 33 years since the era of modern aquariums began here in Baltimore, our team has made quantum leaps in terms of the care we offer our animals, the science that informs our work, and the evolving role of aquariums in the nation and world,” said Bob Carter, Chair of the National Aquarium Board of Directors. “A key part of the BLUEprint inquiry is to identify the core elements of this desired future state and map out the steps we will take to attain it.”

In partnership with world-renowned design and architecture firm Studio Gang Architects and predictive intelligence company IMPACTS Research & Development, National Aquarium leaders have been working with their community and experts around the world to gain new insight and understanding that will help shape the organization’s future.

Specifically, BLUEprint is focusing research and recommendations on the following:

The future of aquariums worldwide – Since its opening in 1981, the National Aquarium has transformed itself from an aquarium attraction with a nascent conservation program to a nationally recognized conservation organization that operates a world-class aquarium. Through BLUEprint, the Aquarium is taking the next step in pursuing its vision to change the way humanity views and cares for the ocean by identifying the core elements of this desired future state and mapping out the steps it will take to attain it.

Reimagining the National Aquarium experience – As it has evolved, the Aquarium facility has become more diffuse, with three very different exhibit experiences. Separated by water and differing exhibit approaches, these experiences have been challenging to unify. This is the central work of the BLUEprint: to weave these exciting but disparate parts together to tell a powerful story of aquatic conservation. Some of the ideas now in the concept stage include: a “perched wetland” in the slip between Piers 3 and 4 to depict the Chesapeake Bay watershed’s quintessential habitats while demonstrating what a healthy, thriving urban waterfront might be; a series of interactive exhibits that will celebrate the Chesapeake Bay and mid-Atlantic seashores, among other aquatic treasures; a more cohesive visitor pathway; public access to back-of-house zones traditionally off-exhibit, such as the animal care center, marine animal rescue facilities, veterinary lab and food preparation space; and a fresh approach that could make the bridge between the piers an exhibit experience unto itself.

Designing a new role in the nation’s capital – When the original National Aquarium in the Department of Commerce Building in Washington, D.C., closed last fall, the National Aquarium pledged to find a way to have a presence in the capital. Since then, two compelling ideas have emerged and are being explored: (1) An “ocean embassy” idea envisions a program spearheaded by the National Aquarium to bring together ocean advocates, aquarium leaders and policymakers to perform for the ocean what embassies do for nations: debate issues, promote mutual welfare, negotiate disputes and represent the interests of their constituents, and (2) potential collaborations with the Smithsonian Institution.

The future of dolphins at the National Aquarium – With a heightened understanding of the emerging science and an intimate knowledge of the eight dolphins in the National Aquarium’s care, the National Aquarium is studying and evaluating all possible options for providing them with the best possible living environment in the years ahead. A Dolphin Summit will take place at the National Aquarium later this month that brings together experts from the aquatic world to determine the feasibility of a variety of potential solutions, including designing and building a dolphin sanctuary in an ocean-side setting and exploring in detail the requirements for operating such a facility.

“Though we have achieved much over our first decades, we are not resting on our laurels,” said John Racanelli, National Aquarium CEO. “To the contrary, we are embracing these changes enthusiastically as we design a future that will ensure we remain relevant to our audience of the next 30 years.”

Over the recent months, the groundbreaking process of BLUEprint caught the attention of The New Yorker magazine, which, in its May 19 issue, features some of these ideas and concepts in a profile of Studio Gang founder Jeanne Gang.

National Aquarium Board and staff, Studio Gang, IMPACTS and other Aquarium stakeholders will be working together in the coming months to refine the elements that will be included in the final BLUEprint plan.